Education in Secondary Vocational Institutions vs. Higher Education: A Requirement of the Times?

Introduction: The question of educational pathway choices among school students, especially the priority between higher education and secondary vocational education, is becoming increasingly relevant in the context of dynamic changes in the labor market. There is a need to explore the factors influencing educational decisions of school students, including regional differences, motivations for choice, and perceptions of barriers.

Purpose: This study aims to analyze the educational preferences and motivations of 9th and 11th-grade students from Moscow and various regions of Russia, as well as assess their awareness of the labor market and the opportunities provided by different educational pathways. The research seeks to help school graduates develop a clear understanding of the prospects available to them in the context of higher and secondary vocational education.

Materials and Methods: The study involved 3,000 students from 9th and 11th grades, including 1,200 students from Moscow schools and 1,800 from regional schools (Moscow Region, Saint Petersburg, Nizhny Novgorod Region, Samara Region, Krasnoyarsk Territory, Republic of Tatarstan, and Sverdlovsk Region). Quantitative methods were used to analyze survey data and results from tests on career preferences and labor market awareness, along with qualitative methods applied to semi-structured interviews to identify motivations and barriers in educational pathway selection.

Results: The findings indicated that students from Moscow are more likely to choose academic and socially-oriented career pathways, while students from the regions prefer realistic and investigative professions. Key motivational factors included interest in the subject and the prospects of high earnings, whereas the main barriers were the high cost of education and fear of failure. The analysis revealed significant differences in educational preferences and perceptions of barriers based on regional and gender characteristics.

Conclusion: The study confirms the importance of considering regional and individual characteristics of students when developing career guidance programs and educational pathways. Educational choices are not only determined by personal interests and abilities but are also closely linked to students' awareness of the labor market and their perceptions of available opportunities. The results highlight the need to expand access to information about secondary vocational education and careers that do not require higher education, which could facilitate more informed choices and better alignment of educational pathways with labor market needs.

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